Air-service station



March 25, 1930. c. WOODFORD 1,752,048

AIR SERVICE STATION Filed July 5. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "1"" "Ill March 25, 1930. J. Q WQQDFQRD 1,752,048

AIR SERVICE STATION Filed July 5, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 25, 1930. J. c. WOODFORD 1,752,048

AIR SERVICE STATION Filed July 5', 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 15? I I86 I82 mag/9 I my [7 Patented Mar. 25, 1 930.

UNITEDSTA-TES PATENT omen JOE C. WOODFORD, O1 BRYAN, OHIO," ASIGNOBTO SERVICE STATION EQUIPMENT CO! rm, OF BRYAN, OHIO, A. CORPORATION 01' DELAWARE 'am-snnvron STATION Application filed Iuly-5,1927. sumac. 808,801.

The object of:- my invention is to provide an air service stationparticularly adapted for use in connection with servicing auto- -mobiles for supplying them with air for their tires, the device being durable and very practicaL. i '1 More particularly my invention relates to an air service station havinga hose reel therein for containing and storing the air service hose when not in use. v

Still another object is to. provide a cut-ofi valve for the supply of airwhereby the return of the hose upon the reel within the sta-' tion itself will allow. the air from the service I hose to be cut oil.

A further object is to provide-a hose reel which cooperates with a cut-off valve for the V supply 'of 'air in such a manner as to necessitate the withdrawing of the hose fora short, distance before any air is admitted thereto.

Still another object'is toprovide a spiral connectingportion in the air service line just before it connects with the air hose reel.

Another object-includes a casing having a pair of discs arranged to snap on to the easing for completely closing it and the arrangement of hose guards on the interiorof the casing for preventing the hose from possibly leaving its reel. With these and other objects inview my invention consists in the construction, arrange ment and combination of the various parts of iny device, whereby the objects contem lated are attained. as hereinafter more ful y set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved air service station inounted upon a base or pedestal. Figure '2 is a side view of the same with'one of the discs or cover plates of the casing removed. Figure 3 is a similar view showing the opposite side of the device from that shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure is a sectional view'taken on the REISSUED line 5-5 oiigure 4 illustrating the hose reel line 8-8 of Figure 7 disclosing aportion of the cut-ofl' valve.

Figure 9 isea sectional view taken on the line 9- 9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the con trol lever for the cut-off valve.

Figure '12 is an enlarged detail view of the cut-ofi valve in another position from that shown in Figure 7.

Figure 13 is a detailsectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 9. a

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view through a portion of the casing and cover plate and Figure 15 is a detail view showlngt e connection of the hose reel with the bracket upon which it is mounted.

In the accompanying drawings I have used A the reference character A to indicate a frame or casing forming apart of my air service station. The frame A is in theform of arectangular housing or casing upon which is mounted a sheet metal casing 10 substantially drum shaped.

The casing 10 includes a pair of side cover plates or discs 12 having inturned peripheral flanges 14. The casing 10 along each of its sidevedges is formed with indents 16 which receive and coact with inwardly extending projections 18 formed upon the flanges 14. The cover plates v12 snap on to the casinglO.

The casin metal and w en the discs or cover plates are in position, the casing is quite rigid. The

casing 10 is formed of a band or strip of material which has its ends resting against the frame A and secured thereto by bolts or the like 20 as clearly illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing.

The frame A. has an each side an outturned 10 is, of course, made of sheet,

flange 22 which gaps the space between the ends of the casing so that the flanges 14 of the cover plates 12 may extend over the flange 22 as though it were part of the easing 10.

The frame A is preferably of castmaterial while the casing 10 is of sheet material.

Mounted upon the casing 10 is a housing 24 adapted to receive ,an automatic weighing unit 26. The unit 26 Weighs or measures the amount of air "permitted to pass throughthe device into the inner tube of an automobile. The weighing unit forms no part of my present invention.

A suitable crank handle is provided upon the housing 24 which controls the weighing unit as'jto the desired number of pounds of pressure wanted.

The frame A 'on its interior is provided with spaced inwardly'extending In S 28' on which is mounted an inverted shaped bracket B. The bracket B is formed with a short leg 30 arranged to rest upon one of the lugs 28 and is also provided with a longv leg 32 arranged to rest upon the other two of the lugs 28 as clearly illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. v

.The bracket B is thus mounted within the housing A upon the lugs 28 at three points.

the ends of the arms 36. The purpose of the shaft 42 will be hereinafter more fully set forth. 1

At the unction of the arms 86 of the bracket B, I provide a bearing opening 44 for receiving. a substantially enlarged shaft 46 having a shoulder 48 thereon arranged to rest againstone side of the bracketB. The-shaft 46' is normally set or locked withinthe bearing opening .44 vby a suitable. set screw/50.

The end of the shaft 46 adjacent the bracket B is formed with an interiorly screw threaded opening 52 arranged to coact with .a crank arm 54 having one end screwlthreaded to coact with the screw, threaded opening 52 clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the 'drawings.

The purpose of the crank arm 54 and its connection with the shaft 46 will hereinafter be more fully set forth in connection with the practical operation of my device.

Y The bracket B has the leg portion 56 projecting up above the junction point of the arms 36 and a bearing opening 58 is formed .in the leg 56 for receiving a reel supporting keyed to 166 is rotated upon the shaft 60 that the hose shaft 60. The shaft 60 is locked or the bracket B by a suitable pin or the like 62. o The shaft ,60 projects inwardly within the casing upon one side of the bracket B. It

{will be noted that the'bracket B is located adjacent one side edge of the casing 10. Formed integral with the bracket B and extending upwardly therefrom above the leg 56 is an extension 64 arranged to support a cutoff valve structure C. The cut-off valve structureC will be more fully set forth.

I x [1 we; assembly Upon the extended portion of the shaft 60 I mount a hose reel assembly D. The hose reel assembly 1) includes an elongated sleeve 66 having babbitt bearing material 68 there-v in. The sleeve and its babbitt material 68 is mounted upon the shaft 60.

The outer surface of the sleeve 66 is formed with gear teeth 70. The sleeve 66 is rotatably mounted'on the shaft 60. A finger 72 is fixed to the bracket A and extends into an annular groove 74 formed in the sleeve 66 adjacent the end'which engages the bracket B. The sleeve 66 is, therefore, rotatably but non-slidably mounted upon the shaft 60. The sleeve 66 u on the end opposite from the bracket B is ormed with an outwardly extending annular flange or disc 76. The

hose reel proper is fixed to the disc or flange 76. The hose reel itself is formed of a pair of spaced sheet metal plates 78 having their outer edges outturned as at 80.

The two plates 78 are'spaced apart by a spacing ring 82 whichvhas its outer surface spirally arranged. The spacing ring' is formed with a number of openings 84 through which are extended rivets or the like 86 which also extend through. openings formed in the plates 78. The spacing ring 82 serves. to space the two discs or plates 78 a proper distanceapart and at the same time provides for a base or drum upon which the service hose may rest when in reeled-up position.- tr

The air service line is connected to the hose reel by a suitable connection clearly disclosed in Figure6 of the drawing. The connection 'ust referred to includes a casing element 88 aving spaced ears or. lugs 90 which are bolted orriveted to the flange 76 of the sleeve 66.

One of the plates 78 is formed with'an enlarged openingthroughwhich the connection of Figure 6 may be extended. The connection of Fi re 6 also extends through the other plate 8 and into a recess formed in the sleeve 66.

Each of the lugs 90 is formed with an opening or thelike 92 for accommodating a rivet or bolt for connecting it to the sleeve 66 or the flange 76. It will be noted that the sleeve 66 and the flange7 6 are formed integrally.

From the construction of the parts just described; it will be seen that when the sleeve reel and the'airconnection thereof will rotate in unison.

ed as at 94. A lugor cap 96 is formed with a screw threade portion 98 and arranged to coact with the screw threads 94. A stem 100 is received within the ca 96 and is formed with arfiange102 which is received within a gap shaped opening 104 formed in the cap connection between the stem and the cap 96 by means of the gasket 106.

It will be noted that the cap 96 together with the casing 88 and the parts received therein, are capable of rotation or revolving around the stem 100. U on one side of the casin 88 and in communication therewith, is a fitting 110 which is connected to one end of a flexible air service hose 112. The fitting 110 is in communication with the interior of the casing 88.

Upon the outer end of the stemlOO is an elbow fitting 114. The stem 100 is also provided with a. central .opening or port 116.

The air' servicehose 112 is wrapped around .the spacer ring 82 and extends through an opening 118 formed between the ends of the ring 82. The free end of the air service hose 112 is formed with an air chuck 1 20 adapted.

to coact with the valve stem of an automobile inner tube.

. A rubber ball or the like 122 is mounted upon the hose 112 adjacent the chuck 120.

A fittin 124 is placed within the housing or frame i and has four anti-friction roller: 126 mounted therein for allowing the hose to pass therethrough and to be pulled in any direction at ammimum amount of frictional v resistance.

The parts just described from the hose reel assembly unit of my air service station.

Hose reel return assembly In order to have the air service hose 112 return and be wound upon the reel afterit has been! used, I provide a spring actuated thereon. a

Within the drum 128v is a spiral spring 130 having one end fixed to the shaft 46 as at 132 and having its other ind fixed to the drum 128 asat 134. A cover plate 136 coacts with the drum 128 for forming 'a housing or cas- 4 -in "forthespring 5 'ormed integral with the drum 128 is a large pinion 138 arranged to coact with the gear teeth of the sleeve 66.

It will be noted that when the airservice hose 112 is withdrawn or unwound from its reel that the gear teeth 70 will impart rotation to thepinion' 138 causing the spring 130 to be wound-up or' tensioned.

When the air service hose is released, the spring 130 will tend to resume its normal .untensioned position thus imparting rotation to the pinion 138 and in turn imparting rotation to the'sleeve 6'6iand the hose reel assembly. The spring 130 maybe adjusted to various tensions by releasing the set screw 50 and by rotating the crank arm 54 with the hose reel remaining stationary.

. After the tension has been arranged to the required degree, then the set screw 50 is set and the crank arm 54 may be removed from the screw threaded opening 52 of the shaft 46. The crank arm 54 is normally removed so that one of the cover plates 12 may extend The cut-off valve C is mounted upon the extension '64 of the bracket B by means of bolts or the like 140 which extend through openings 142 formed in the-flange 144 of the cut-off valve casting. The cut-off valve casting includes a tubular shaped portion 146 having a screw threaded opening 148 in its upper end for receiving a' cap' or plug 150.

A screw threaded fittintg152 coacts with the screw threaded openinglformed' in the cap 150 and is in communication with the interior of the tubular shaped portion 146. A gasket 154 is interposed between the cap or plug 150 and the upper end of the tubular portion 146. The tubular portion 146 adjacent one end is also provided with a screw threaded opening 156 for receiving a cap or plug 158.

A gasket 160 is interposed between the cap 158 and tubular portion 146. The plug 150 on its inner side is ormed with a cup sha ed opening 162 which eceives a rubber gas et orthe like 164. The plug or cap 158 has a central opening 166 which has a valve open ing and closing shaft 168 mounted therein.

One end of the shaft 168 is received within a recess 170 formed in a portion of the casting forming the cut-off valve C. Between the ends of the shaft 168 is an enlarged portion 172 having a central screw threaded opening 174 therein. A control pin or plug 176 is mounted within the opening 174.

A coil spring 178 is disposed around the shaft 168 and has one end resting against the casting of the cut-off valve C and has its other end resting against the enlarged portion'172 of the shaft 168 for normally pressing the enlarged portion 172 against the gasket 164.

A rib or the like is formed on the cap 158 and on the enlarged portion'172 for engagement with the opposite sides of the gasket 164. The gasket 164 provides for an air tight connection or mounting of the shaft 168.

The outer end of the shaft 168 is squared as at 180.

In communication with the tubular portion 146 of the cut-off valve C is a sleeve 182 having a screw threaded neck at dne end coacting with a screw threaded opening in the tubular portion 146 for providing communication between the sleeve 182 and the interior of the tubular portion 146.

. A cap or plug 184 is screw threaded into the free end of the sleeve 182 and a gasket 186is interposed therebetween. A'fitting 188 .is screw threaded into the plug 184 and is therefore, in communication with the interior ofthe sleeve 182. The fitting 188 is similar to the fitting 152.

Within the sleeve 182 is mounted a valve member which controls the passage of air from the inlet fitting 188 through the outlet fitting 152. Interposed in the air supply line 190 is an air cleaner and sediment trap 192. The air cleaner and sediment trap is of the kind disclosed in my copending application filed May 31, 1927, Serial Number 195,234.

The air supply line 190 is in communication with the inlet fittin 188. After air passes through the cut-off valve C it travels through a suppl line or pipe 194 up to the automatic welg ing unit 26 and thence through a supply pipe,196 which is arranged spirally at the point of its connection with the fitting 114.

The spiral arrangement of the pipe 196 which is of metal such as copper tubing, is quite desirable in that it takes care of shock which is imparted to the hose reel when the hose is first withdrawn and thereafter when it is returned.

By providing the s iral arrangement of the pipe or line 196, I d'that the vibration and shock efiect imparted to the connection between the metal pipeline 196 and the fitting 114, is such as to minimize likelihood of breaking the connection between the line 196 and fitting 114.

' Any irregularity in size or wearing of the bearm parts of t e hose reel assembly, does not e ect the connection due to the spiral arran ement of the line 196, It will thus be seent at air enterin .the supply line 196 is permitted to be disc arged through the air SGIVICQhOSG 112 after having passed through the cut-off valve member and'the weighing unit 26. I

The valve member of the cut-off ,valve will now be described. My valve member includes a hexagonal shaft 198 extending through an opening 200 formed in the sleeve 182. A spindle 202 is formed with a screw threaded opening 204 arranged to receive the screw threaded shank 206 formed on the shaft 198. I

-' a spindle 202 is slidably mounted within a recess 208 formed in the plug 184 and has its sides flattened so as to prov de a passageway around the spindle when it is re ceived within theopemng or recess 208.

A cup shaped flange 210 is formed on one endof the spindle 202 and has arubber disc 212 received therein which seats. against one end wall of the sleeve 182 and seals the opening for preventing air from within the sleeve passing through the openmg 200.

The shaft 198 has one of. its ends arranged adjacent the control pin or. plug 176 and movement of the plug 176 as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 9 of the drawings,

will impart sliding movement to the shaft 198 and spindle 202 thereby unseating'the rubber gasket'212..

The valve member is closed or returned to closed position by a coil spring 214 mounted within the sleeve 182 and around the spindle 202. The control pin or plug is operated from a cam arm 216 which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 168. A crank arm 218 is I fixed upon the squared portion 180 of the ,shaft' 168 and has a set screw 220 mounted therein which is adapted to coact with a portion 222 ofthe cam arm 216.

The crank arm 218 is formed with a lat- .of the drawings. The roller 226 upon the lever 228 travels against the undersideof the cam'arm 216. The lever 228 is also formed with a lug or'pin 234 arranged to travel m a spirally arranged groove or channel" 236 4 formed in one wall of the drum casing 128.

Figure 7 shows the lever in the position it is in when the cut-off valve is closed. Figure 12 shows the same lever in the position that it is in when the cut-ofl' valve C is open.,

When-the service hose 112 is withdrawn from its reel, then the reel 1) rotates in the direction indicated-by the arrow 238.

; When the lug'or'pin 234 reaches cam portion 240 of the groove 236, then the lever 228 will be swung upon its pivot in the direction indicated by the arrow 242. Such the flat or movement in turn imparts an upward swinging movement to the cam arm 216 and causes the valve member to be opened.

izs

\ After the valve member isonce opened, it I remains open so long as the hose is withdrawn. The cam arm is so arranged that the cut-off valve is moved to open position when the roller 226 engages the cam arm at the point 1 actually permitted to pass thereto.

I provide a rebounder or shock absorber in the groove 236 in the form of a spring 246 which is placed within the groove 236 and in a socket arranged for the purpose. When the hose reel is permitted to return for winding the hose thereon, then as it reaches its limit of such movement, the spring 246 engages the pin 234 and the spring serves as a shock absorber.

It will be further noted that when the cam arm 216 is moved, that it imparts movement to the control pin or plug 176 which in turn opens the valve member of the cut-off valve 0.

Upon the casing 10 adjacent the ends of the plates 78 which form the hose reel, I provide a pair of guard rails 248 which are positioned quite close to the outer edge of the hose reel and prevent the hose when suddenly released from being forced out of the reel.

My air service station has gone into commercial use and is very practical in that the hose is always enclosed and the air leading to the hose is normally cut ofi except when the hose is in service position.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intentionto cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. An air service station including a bracket, a hose reel revolubly mounted thereon, an air service hose wound on said reel, an an servlce line havlng an air tlght connection with said hose at'the center of the reel, a portion of said air service line being metallic tubing and being spirally arranged around such air tight connection whereby to preclude the rupturing of theconnection upon movement pf th connection relative to the air service me.

2. An air service station comprising a housing, a reel therein, an air service, hose wound thereon, a metallic air service line connected with said hose, said air service line being spirally arranged at and around the point of its connection with the air service hose.

Des Moines, Iowa, June 11, 1927.

f .JOE C. WOODFORD. 

